R. Vanbreuseghem 1909–1993

Editor's Note. Dr Vanbreuseghem was a member of the Mycopathologia Educational Board from 1959 to 1960.     

Zooplankton of Lake Peipsi-Pihkva in 1909–1987

164 taxa were identified in the net zooplankton of the pelagial of L. Peipsi-Pihkva in 1909–1987, including 3 species of protozoans, 74 species of rotifers, 58 species of cladocerans, 28 species of copepods and 1 mollusc. One rotifer species, Ploesoma peipsiense Mäemets et Kutikova, has been described as new for science here. The zooplankton of L. Peipsi-Pihkva is remarkably rich in species including rarities in Estonia: Limnosida frontosa, Drepanothrix dentata, Bythotrephes longimanus, B. cederstroemi etc. Due to its large surface area, L. Peipsi-Pihkva provides a large scale of biotopes of a diverse trophic state and humic content, which support species with different ecological requirements. Most of the aquatory of the lake has lately been mesotrophic, favouring the coexistence of indicators of oligo- and mesotrophic state and species preferring a higher trophic state. The occurrece of 10 species of the genus Bosmina including B. berolinensis, B. gibbera, B. lilljeborgi, B. thersites and B. crassicornis, sparse in Estonian lakes, is the most noteworthy feature of the zooplankton of L. Peipsi-Pihkva. The coexistence of B. coregoni and B. berolinensis, B. gibbera, B. lilljeborgi etc. which were earlier regarded as subspecies of B. c. coregoni proves that they are different species producing usually no hybrids. The species composition was subjected to certain changes during the years under consideration. Larvae of Dreissena were first found in zooplankton in 1962. The oligo-mesotrophic indicator Holopedium gibberum occurred in the lake in 1909–1964, but was lacking in later samples.     

Edward Smith Deevey 1914–1988

Stone loach and bullhead were given a choice of Chironomus and Asellus prey in experiments using solitary fish and fish in company. Solitary fish ate more than fish in company. The effect of light and substratum type on feeding was investigated. Both species ate more prey items on gravel than silt when a significant difference was observed. Bullhead ate more than loach in the light on both substrata. The only experiment in which loach ate more than bullhead was on a silt substratum in the dark. It is concluded that these two species utilise different components of the available food resources in chalk streams by adopting different habitats.     

Publications of Anthony Calhoun Clement (1909–1984)

Summary

Two zoeae and the megalopa of the majid crab Macropodia parva were obtained from laboratory material. At 25±1°C and 35% salinity, the first crab appeared 12 days after hatching; survival to the first crab instar was 27%. The larval stages are described in detail and compared with those of the previously described species of the genus Macropodia. Zoeal characteristics of M. parva that differentiate it from other known Macropodia larvae are the naked telson furcae and the absence, in zoea II, of the exopodal setae on the basis of the maxillule.     

Jean Louis Armand de Quatrefages de Breau (1810–1892)

Biographies of European Anthropologists by D. Ferembach

Jean Louis Armand de Quatrefages de Breau (1810–1892)     

Molecular Epidemiology of Seal Parvovirus, 1988–2014

A novel parvovirus was discovered recently in the brain of a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) with chronic meningo-encephalitis. Phylogenetic analysis of this virus indicated that it belongs to the genus Erythroparvovirus, to which also human parvovirus B19 belongs. In the present study, the prevalence, genetic diversity and clinical relevance of seal parvovirus (SePV) infections was evaluated in both harbor and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) that lived in Northwestern European coastal waters from 1988 to 2014. To this end, serum and tissue samples collected from seals were tested for the presence of seal parvovirus DNA by real-time PCR and the sequences of the partial NS gene and the complete VP2 gene of positive samples were determined. Seal parvovirus DNA was detected in nine (8%) of the spleen tissues tested and in one (0.5%) of the serum samples tested, including samples collected from seals that died in 1988. Sequence analysis of the partial NS and complete VP2 genes of nine SePV revealed multiple sites with nucleotide substitutions but only one amino acid change in the VP2 gene. Estimated nucleotide substitution rates per year were 2.00×10⁻⁴ for the partial NS gene and 1.15×10⁻⁴ for the complete VP2 gene. Most samples containing SePV DNA were co-infected with phocine herpesvirus 1 or PDV, so no conclusions could be drawn about the clinical impact of SePV infection alone. The present study is one of the few in which the mutation rates of parvoviruses were evaluated over a period of more than 20 years, especially in a wildlife population, providing additional insights into the genetic diversity of parvoviruses.     

Donald S. Farner (1915–1988)

In Memoriam

Donald S. Farner (1915–1988)     

Fatal mushroom poisoning in Barcelona, 1986–1988

In 1986–88, 46 poisonings (4 of which were fatal) caused by amatoxin mushroom were reported. The fatalities were males aged between 7 and 65 years. They all had gastrointestinal symptoms and three of the patients died of acute hepatic insufficiency. The fourth died as a result of an intestinal perforation. The clinical and pathological alterations are compared with the findings of other authors.     

Airborne bacteria in Kuwait (1986–1988)

Totally 341 outdoors air samples were taken by Casella Airborne Sampler at a height of 7 m in the Allergy Centre of Kuwait between 1986 and 1988. Bacillus was detected in 85.3% of the samples. Micrococcus (71.3%), Staphylococcus albus (65.4%). Gram-positive rods (53.4%) were more prevalent than gram-negative rods (23.7%). Higher counts were seen in 1986 (500 CFU m^?3) compared to 1987 (407 CFU m^?3) and 1988 (369 CFU m^?3). Relatively higher counts were seen in August and September and a smaller peak was found in February and March. The correlation between the various types was always positive and was frequently highly significant. High counts were seen with strong winds. Among the meteorological factors, wind speed was the only significant factor. High average of bacteria counts were found when winds were blowing from the land (574 CFU m^?3) compared with the sea (346.5 CFU m^?3). Higher average counts were observed in the days with sand storms (1769 CFU m^?3), with rising sand (534.8 CFU m^?3) and the other days with dust phenomena, compared with clear weather (317 CFU m^?3).     

Index to Vegetatio,volumes 74–110 (1988–1994)

Chamaecytisus proliferus (L.fil.) Link (Fabaceae: Genisteae) represents a species complex in the Canary Islands. Floristic data from 147 releves from the whole complex were collected and analysed by classification (TWINSPAN) and ordination (DECORANA) methods. Results indicate that white escobon of Tenerife, escobon of El Hierro, white escobon of Gran Canaria and typical tagasaste in La Palma are associated with those plant communities from the north of these islands which are under the influence of the north-eastern trade winds. Narrow-leaved escobon in Tenerife and La Gomera, escobon of southern Gran Canaria and white tagasaste of La Palma are found in those areas which are not under the direct influence of these winds. Morphological forms from the more easterly islands (Gran Canaria and Tenerife-La Gomera) have the broadest ecological range and they have played an important role in the floristic changes which have taken place after the destruction of the forests in these islands. The highest priorities for in situ conservation should be given to wild populations of typical tagasaste, white escobon of Tenerife and escobon of El Hierro.Abbreviations IBPGR International Board for Plant Genetic Resources - DECORANA Detrended Correspondence Analysis - OTU Operational Taxonomic Unit - TWINSPAN Two Way Indicator Species Analysis     

1988–2006年辽河三角洲植被结构的变化

在人类干扰和气候波动的影响下,辽河三角洲的植被结构发生了显著变化。该文研究了辽河三角洲植被结构的变化,对于保护该地区生态系统、促使其健康发展具有重要意义。研究区域包括了整个辽河三角洲。资料来源主要是1988年和2006年的TM(Landsat Thematic Mapper)遥感图像。采用数字化、制作植被图和叠加分析等方法研究探讨了辽河三角洲植被结构的特点,以及植被的空间分布转移和面积变化。结果显示,以双台子河口为中心,4大植被类型(自然湿地植被、人工湿地植被、人工旱地植被和自然旱地植被)大体上构成半环状分布格局。从整体上看,从1988年至2006年,植被结构仍然保持半环状的空间格局。但是,主要植被类型的空间分布趋于集中,形成了比较大的斑块,而不是离散、破碎的。从植被类型间相互转化的情况看,几乎所有植被类型的空间分布和面积都有明显改变。在绝对面积上,水稻(Oryzasativa)田、玉米(Zeamays)地和滨海芦苇(Phragmitesaustralis)湿地是辽河三角洲3个面积最大的植被类型。水稻田是面积增加最多的植被类型,增加977.1km2;而玉米地是面积减少最多的植被类型,减少622.2km2。在面积变化幅度上,水稻田、玉米地和滨海芦苇湿地的变化幅度分别为33.2%、–16.1%、–23.2%。面积减少幅度最大的植被类型是草地,–77.9%;面积增加幅度最大的植被类型是翅碱蓬(Suaedaheteroptera)盐化草甸,212.1%。     

HIV Transmission in a State Prison System, 1988–2005

Introduction

HIV prevalence among state prison inmates in the United States is more than five times higher than among nonincarcerated persons, but HIV transmission within U.S. prisons is sparsely documented. We investigated 88 HIV seroconversions reported from 1988–2005 among male Georgia prison inmates.

Methods

We analyzed medical and administrative data to describe seroconverters'' HIV testing histories and performed a case-crossover analysis of their risks before and after HIV diagnosis. We sequenced the gag, env, and pol genes of seroconverters'' HIV strains to identify genetically-related HIV transmission clusters and antiretroviral resistance. We combined risk, genetic, and administrative data to describe prison HIV transmission networks.

Results

Forty-one (47%) seroconverters were diagnosed with HIV from July 2003–June 2005 when voluntary annual testing was offered. Seroconverters were less likely to report sex (OR [odds ratio] = 0.02, 95% CI [confidence interval]: 0–0.10) and tattooing (OR = 0.03, 95% CI: <0.01–0.20) in prison after their HIV diagnosis than before. Of 67 seroconverters'' specimens tested, 33 (49%) fell into one of 10 genetically-related clusters; of these, 25 (76%) reported sex in prison before their HIV diagnosis. The HIV strains of 8 (61%) of 13 antiretroviral-naïve and 21 (40%) of 52 antiretroviral-treated seroconverters were antiretroviral-resistant.

Discussion

Half of all HIV seroconversions were identified when routine voluntary testing was offered, and seroconverters reduced their risks following their diagnosis. Most genetically-related seroconverters reported sex in prison, suggesting HIV transmission through sexual networks. Resistance testing before initiating antiretroviral therapy is important for newly-diagnosed inmates.     

Jean Lavorel (1928–2021): a great scientist,a model of integrity

Photosynthesis Research - This paper is a tribute to a great scientist and an authentic “honest man” that was Jean Lavorel (1928–2021). He was a pioneer in research on the primary...